Drug & supplement interaction

Winter Cherry + Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) brand name: Apidra.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Winter Cherry has a moderate interaction with Insulin Glulisine (rDNA). In animal diabetic models, winter cherry extract decreases blood glucose.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Winter Cherry and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Winter Cherry interacts with.

In animal diabetic models, winter cherry extract decreases blood glucose. This effect has not been shown in humans. Theoretically, winter cherry might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the situation with Winter Cherry (ashwagandha) and your Apidra. Apidra is a fast-acting mealtime insulin, and it already lowers your blood sugar. In animal studies, ashwagandha also nudged blood sugar down a bit. So in theory, stacking the two could push your sugar lower than expected, raising the chance of a low (hypoglycemia). That can show up as shakiness, sweating, a racing heart, confusion, or feeling dizzy.

I want to be honest about the evidence here: this effect has only been seen in lab and animal work, not proven in people, so it's more theoretical than certain. Still, if you decide to try Winter Cherry, it's smart to check your sugars a little more closely at first and let your pharmacist or doctor know before you start.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Winter Cherry Also Interacts With Other Medications

Winter Cherry has 155 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 155 No known interaction 2,675 (incl. Insulin Glulisine (rDNA))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Winter Cherry

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Winter Cherry. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

This page covers Winter Cherry only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) page lists 239 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate), Agaricus Mushroom (moderate) and Agmatine (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 208 moderate · 30 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) page

“Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a rapid mealtime insulin, and this list calls for real vigilance. All 239 ingredients on file affect blood sugar, most of the 208 moderate entries by adding their own glucose lowering to the insulin's and raising the chance of a serious low.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Winter Cherry and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Winter Cherry
Steady interest

#1,071 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)
Steady interest

#2,267 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Winter Cherry

What is Winter Cherry?

  • Stress and anxiety
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Sleep support
  • General vitality and tonic
  • Athletic performance

Winter Cherry is another name for ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), an herb long used in Ayurvedic medicine, most often for stress, sleep, and energy. Some small studies suggest it may help with stress and anxiety, but the evidence is still limited and not definitive. It is generally well tolerated short-term, but pregnant women should avoid it, and anyone with a health condition should check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Winter Cherry monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection

What Is Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection Used For?

Brand name: Apidra

Apidra and Apidra SoloStar are used to improve glycemic control (blood sugar management) in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. This includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Because insulin glulisine works very quickly, it is typically used around mealtimes to control the rise in blood sugar that happens after eating. It is generally used alongside a longer-acting insulin as part of a complete diabetes regimen.

See full Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Winter Cherry

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Winter Cherry — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
155Moderate
0Minor
2,674No known interaction
155 Moderate 2,674 No interaction
Moderate

155 interactions

Showing 60 of 155 moderate interactions — see all 155 on the Winter Cherry page.

No interaction 2,674 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Winter Cherry against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,674 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Winter Cherry list.

See the full Winter Cherry interactions page
See every supplement checked against Insulin Glulisine (rDNA), ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Winter Cherry monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Insulin Glulisine (rDNA), ranked by severity Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Winter Cherry and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Winter Cherry with Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Winter Cherry and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) and Winter Cherry?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.